Star Defender
← → move your ship (or hold the on-screen buttons), Space / Fire to shoot. Clear every alien to spawn a faster wave. Bombs and aliens reaching the bottom cost a life — you have 3.
Star Defender — a free online arcade game on TotType
Star Defender is a free, browser-based space shooter where you pilot a ship along the bottom of the screen, blasting incoming alien formations before they close in on you. Dodge falling bombs, catch power-ups like rapid-fire and shields, and clear every wave to face faster, more aggressive enemies. Try a demo run instantly in your browser on phone, tablet, or desktop—no download, no account; a free parent account with a verified email unlocks unlimited play and saves your scores.
- Made for
- Kids
- Players
- 1, or up to 4 online
- Online
- With everyone playing it now, or in a private room with a 4-character code; bots (marked 🤖) fill empty seats
- Controls
- Keyboard, mouse or touch
- Scored in
- pts · posts to the arcade leaderboard
- Shelf
- Classic arcade games
- Cost
- Free — try a demo run with no account (one run, up to 90 seconds, twice a day; not saved); a free parent account with a verified email unlocks unlimited play and saved scores
- En español
- Star Defender en español
How to play Star Defender
← → move your ship (or hold the on-screen buttons), Space / Fire to shoot. Clear every alien to spawn a faster wave. Bombs and aliens reaching the bottom cost a life — you have 3.
Tips & tricks
- The Shield power-up (blue S) switches on the moment you catch it and soaks up bomb hits for about 6 seconds—but it can't stop aliens that reach the bottom, so keep thinning the formation.
- When the Rapid fire power-up (yellow R) is active, your ship auto-fires continuously, so hold still under the densest column and let it chew through.
- Your shots always hit the lowest alien in a column, so work column by column; the higher rows are worth more (pink 40, purple 30, cyan 20, green 10).
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Star Defender?
Use the arrow keys or on-screen buttons to slide your ship left and right, then press Space or Fire to shoot upward at the marching alien formation. Destroy all aliens to clear the wave and face a tougher one.
How do you score in Star Defender?
Each alien you destroy gives points based on its row: pink aliens = 40 points, purple = 30, cyan = 20, green = 10. Catch falling power-ups for extras like rapid fire and double bullets.
What are the power-ups in Star Defender?
Rapid fire (R) fires automatically and much faster, Double (2) fires two bullets side by side, Shield (S) blocks bomb hits for a few seconds, and Life (heart) gives you an extra life. Catch them as they fall after destroying aliens—each one switches on as soon as you catch it.
Can I play Star Defender online with friends?
Yes. Open Star Defender and choose Play online to join everyone playing it right now: up to 4 players a round, all starting together, and the highest score wins. When nobody else is on, computer players marked as bots hold the empty seats, and a real player always takes a bot's place. To play only with friends, make a private room and share its 4-character code. Online play needs a free parent account with a verified email, and players see only each other's nicknames and scores: there is no chat.